2 Ships Leave Spain After U.S. Sailor’s Death
Two Navy ships, their flags flying at half-mast, ended a Christmas call in Barcelona today after a grenade attack killed a crewman on shore leave and wounded nine others.
Claims for the attack were made by two rival Catalan separatist groups, but there was speculation that an Arab or European guerrilla group could have been responsible.
A witness heard a terrorist shout “Long Live Lebanon!” before lobbing two hand grenades into the USO club Saturday, police said today.
The destroyer Thorn pulled out of Barcelona’s port five days ahead of schedule. The frigate Donald B. Beary also left Barcelona today, as it was scheduled to do before the blast.
Five of the nine injured sailors were treated at hospitals and released, the four others were treated aboard ship. All came from the two ships.
As the ships sailed for Naples, Italy, police tightened security around other U.S. ships anchored in Palma de Majorca.
The body of Petty Officer Ronald Strong, a crewman from the Thorn killed in the attack, will be taken to the U.S. air base at Torrejon to be flown home.
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